Abhishek Sharma’s 135 secures India’s 4-1 victory over England in T20 series

MUMBAI: India’s Abhishek Sharma scored 135 runs to defeat England by 150 runs in the fifth T20 International to clinch the series 4-1 on Sunday.

Opener Abhishek’s incredible 54-ball innings, which included 13 sixes, took series-winning India to 247-9 in the fourth T20 after being invited to bat first at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Despite Phil Salt’s 23-ball 55, the tourists were never in the chase as India bowled the tourists out for 97 runs to secure their second-biggest T20I win.

Abhishek also took two wickets in his only over bowled with left-arm spin.

“It’s special, coming for the country, it’s always a great feeling,” said the 24-year-old Abhishek.

“When I see it’s my day, I always try to go from the first ball. And the way the coach and the captain have treated me from day one. They have always wanted that intention, they have always supported me.”

England slipped to 68-4 when Jos Buttler (7), Harry Brook (2) and Liam Livingstone (9) all failed to make an impact.

Shyam Dube, a batting all-rounder who bowls medium pace, removed Salt from the first ball after controversially replacing fast bowler Harshit Rana as a connection replacement in the previous match.

The rest of England’s batting fell apart quickly with Jacob Bethell, who scored 10, the only batsman to reach double figures apart from Salt.